Portable computer equipped with add-on battery

ABSTRACT

A portable computer includes a portable computer body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a lower front edge thereof. An add-on battery is detachably mounted on the lower surface of the portable computer body and has a wedge-shaped portion corresponding to a wedge-like space which is defined between the lower surface of the portable computer body and a surface on which the portable computer body is placed, when the portable computer body is placed to be inclined about the lower front edge of the portable computer body. The portable computer body is, when it is equipped with the add-on battery, inclined in such a manner that the upper surface of the portable computer body is lower at a front edge thereof.

This application is a Divisional application of Ser. No. 10/359,612, now pending, which is a Divisional of Ser. No. 09/694,020, filed Oct. 23, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,702, which is a Divisional of Ser. No. 09/213,257, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,637 which, in turn, is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/843,441, filed Apr. 16, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a portable computer, such as a notebook type personal computer, a word processor, and so on. More specifically, this invention relates to a portable computer equipped with an add-on battery which can be removably fitted to the apparatus main body.

As portable computers have become widespread in recent years, improvements in portability, battery life and operability have been required. To improve operability, a keyboard must be inclined. To improve portability, the size and weight of the portable computer must be reduced. To prolong the life of the battery, the battery capacity must be increased. As one of the means for increasing the battery capacity, an add-on battery is removably fitted to the portable computer.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art technology for tilting the key face of a portable computer includes a technology which fits a turn-down-type tilt stand to a personal computer. According to the turn-down-type tilt stand of this prior art, however, a useless space remains between the bottom surface of the portable computer and the desk surface on which the portable computer is put when the tilt stand is turned up. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-76879 discloses a prior art technology which disposes an external memory device in such a space.

Prior art technologies which increase the battery life while improving portability include a method which fits an add-on battery device to the portable computer, whenever necessary. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-76898 and No. 8-76887 disclose a structure capable of removably fitting a battery pack to a portable computer. However, such a portable computer is more bulky even when the add-on battery device is not fitted than those portable computers which have similar function but do not have the function of the add-on battery device.

One of the fitting technologies of the add-on battery prepares a groove and a rail so that the add-on battery device can be slidably fitted onto the portable computer. According to this fitting technology of the add-on battery, however, the add-on battery cannot be fitted easily once the groove undergoes deformation due to change with time.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 8-76889 discloses a connection structure for an information processing apparatus in which connector shell portions for a pair of connectors are formed on the housing of an extended unit, the shell portions and the housing having formed thereon the shell portions are integrally molded from a resin material, and metal plating is applied to the entire surface.

As described above, when the tilt stand is turned up in the conventional portable computer equipped with the turn-down type tilt stand, a space remains between the bottom surface of the portable computer and the desk surface on which the portable computer is placed, and the space cannot be effectively utilized. In the conventional portable computer having a removable add-on battery, the size is greater than the portable computer having no add-on battery device function, and the portability is therefore lower.

According to the prior art technology capable of fitting the add-on battery in which the battery is fitted to the portable computer by the slide system using the groove and the rail, the add-on battery cannot be fitted easily to the portable computer, if the groove or the rail once undergoes deformation due to a change with time, and fitting becomes difficult in some cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable computer which has good operability, is equipped with a removable add-on battery and has a portability equivalent to that of a portable computer having no add-on battery fitting function, though the add-on battery can be fitted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable computer having an extended station which makes it possible to mount the portable computer thereon while the add-on battery is kept fitted to the personal computer main body.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable computer equipped with an add-on battery, the computer comprising: a portable computer body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a lower front edge thereof; mounting means for detachably mounting the add-on battery on the lower surface of the portable computer body, the add-on battery having a wedge-shaped portion corresponding to a wedge-like space which is defined between the lower surface of the portable computer body and a surface on which the portable computer body is placed, when the portable computer body is placed to be inclined about the lower front edge of the portable computer body; and the portable computer body, when it is equipped with the add-on battery, being inclined in such a manner that the upper surface of the portable computer body is lower at a front edge thereof.

When the personal computer is placed on the desk surface, etc, while the add-on battery is added thereto, the upper surface of the computer main body on which the key top and operation surface are disposed is inclined so that its front side becomes lower. Therefore, operability becomes excellent. When the add-on battery is not fitted, the portable computer main body itself can be constituted into a thin notebook type. For this reason, even when the add-on battery can be fitted, the personal computer can be constituted into a thin and light-weight structure having portability equivalent to that of a portable personal computer not having the add-on battery fitting function.

The lower surface of the portable computer body has a rear region and the add-on battery has the wedge-shaped portion having a shape corresponding to the wedge-like space at least at the rear portion of the lower surface of the portable computer body. While the add-on battery is fitted, the space between the back of this portable computer and the desk surface, etc, can be effectively utilized, and a function having a high packaging density can be accomplished.

The mounting means comprises: guide means including L-shaped guide grooves along which the add-on battery is first guided toward the lower surface of the portable computer body and then guided forward with respect to the portable computer body; locking means for automatically locking the add-on battery to the lower surface of the portable computer body when the add-on battery is guided forward with respect to the portable computer body; and releasing means for releasing the locking means to allow the add-on battery to be removed from the portable computer body along the L-shaped guide grooves.

In this case, the portable computer body is provided at the lower surface thereof with pairs of left and right L-shaped guide grooves and the add-on battery has pairs of left and right pawls which can be fitted to the L-shaped guide grooves, respectively.

Accordingly, the add-on battery can be easily fitted and removed to and from the portable computer main body, and the add-on battery can be firmly fixed to the portable computer main body at the time of fitting. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable computer comprising: a portable computer body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a lower front edge thereof; an add-on battery detachably mounted on the lower surface of the portable computer body; and an extended station on which the portable computer body is detachably mounted, while the portable computer body is equipped with the add-on battery, the extended station having a recess or an opening for accommodating therein the add-on battery.

When the portable computer is mounted to the extended station while the add-on battery is kept fitted to the computer main body, the add-on battery is accommodated inside a recess portion (or an opening) in the extended station. Therefore, the overall space can be utilized effectively, and an apparatus having a high density can be accomplished. Even when the recess portion exists in the extended station, a printed wiring board, etc, can be disposed below this recess portion and consequently, the arrangement inside the extended station can be made efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable computer at a state where it is placed on a desk surface while an add-on battery is fitted to the portable computer main body;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the fitting and removing state of the add-on battery to and from the portable computer main body 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view when the portable computer main body is viewed with its bottom surface facing up;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the add-on battery;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the back surface of the portable computer;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state where the add-on battery is fitted to the portable computer main body;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state when the add-on battery is removed from the portable computer main body;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where the portable computer main body, the add-on battery and the extended station are not fitted;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the add-on battery is fitted to the portable computer main body; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the portable computer main body with the add-on battery is further fitted to the extended station from the state shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a portable computer according to the present invention will be explained in detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a portable computer is placed on a desk surface 5 while an add-on battery 4 is fitted to the computer main body 1. As shown in the drawing, the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the bottom surface of the rear part of the portable computer main body 1, and when the battery 4 is fitted, the portable computer main body 1 is inclined with the lower surface of the distal end of the forward part of the main body being the axis. In consequence, the front part of the key top 2 is lower while its rear part is higher, and the input operation by the keyboard 2 becomes easy.

The add-on battery 4 has a wedge-like shape in a longitudinal direction in such a manner as to fill the space between the bottom surface of the portable computer 1 and the surface 5 on which it is placed. Therefore, under a state where the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the portable computer 1, the total capacity of the portable computer having the add-on battery fitted thereto is increased by an amount, i.e., volume or size, which is approximately equal to the capacity, i.e., volume or size, of the add-on battery 4, and thus the space between the bottom surface of the portable computer 1 and the surface 5 on which this portable computer 1 is placed does not become a useless space but can be utilized effectively. Under the state where the add-on battery 4 is removed from the portable computer main body 1, on the other hand, the total capacity is reduced by a capacity, i.e., an amount approximately equal to the capacity of the add-on battery 4 in comparison to the case where it is fitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the fitting/removing state of the add-on battery to and from the portable computer main body 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the portable computer main body with its bottom facing up, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the add-on battery.

In FIG. 3, a rear area 11 of the bottom surface 10 of the portable computer main body 1 is defined as a fitting/removing area of the add-on battery 4. A recess portion 12 for disposing a power connector is formed inside the add-on battery fitting/removing area 11 (for example, inside an area 11 a), and another power connector 13 is disposed on the internal front side of this recess portion 12. By the way, a sliding cover is provided to the recess portion 12. When no add-on battery 4 is fitted, the recess portion 12 is closed and no power connector 13 inside the recess portion 12 can be seen from outside.

The add-on battery fitting/removing area 11 is a recessed area 20 of a T-shaped recessed configuration recessed from the bottom surface 10 and comprising a first portion 20 a of the full width of, and extending from, the rear surface 25 to spaced side portions 11 a and 11 b and a second portion 20 b, extending continuously from the first portion 20 a toward the front surface. Two pairs of spaced pawls 14 and 15 extend laterally inwardly of the center, second portion 20 b of the recessed area 20 from the side areas 11 a and 11 b, respectively parallel to and spaced from the second portion 20b and together therewith defining engaging slots 11 a 1 and 11 b 1. A pair of recesses 21 are formed on opposite end portions of the first portion 20 a of the recessed area 20 for locking the add-on battery 4.

A pair of escape holes 26 for locking are further disposed on opposite end portions of the rear surface 25 of the portable computer main body 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the add-on battery 4 includes a surface 30 which comes into contact with the recessed surface 20, which is recessed from the bottom surface 10 of the portable computer main body 1, when the battery is fitted to the main body 1, and a pair of recessed surfaces 31 a and 31 b which are formed at front positions on opposite end portions of this surface 30 and correspond to the areas 11 a and 11 b of the portable computer main body 1, respectively. The spaced recessed surfaces 31 a and 31 b configure the remaining portion of the surface 30 to be of a raised, or protruding, T-shaped configuration mating the T-shaped recessed configuration of the recessed area 20 of the bottom surface 10 of body 1.

A power supply connector 33 is disposed on one recessed surface 31a in such a manner as to correspond to the power connector 13 of the portable computer main body 1 when the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the portable computer main body 1.

Two pairs of pawls 34 and 35 which correspond to the two pairs of pawls 14 and 15 on the side of the portable computer main body 1 extend laterally outwardly from edges of a center portion of the surface 30 which extends to the front of the add-on battery 4, spaced from and parallel to the pair of recessed surfaces 31 a and 31 b, respectively and together therewith defining corresponding engaging slots 31 a 1 and 31 b 1 mating the engaging slots 11 a 1 and 11 b 1.

A pair of lock pawls 41 are disposed on opposite ends at the rear part of the surface 30 in such a manner as to correspond to the pair of lock recesses 21 of the portable computer main body 1. As will be later described, these lock pawls are normally biased by a spring in a projecting direction, though they can be compressed against the spring.

Furthermore, a pair of projecting pawls 46 that have an L-shaped cross-section and protrude forward are disposed at the positions of the rear end portion of the add-on battery 4 at the back of the pair of lock pawls 41 in such a manner as to correspond to the positions of the pair of escape holes 26 for locking.

Next, the fitting operation of the add-on battery 4 to the portable computer main body 1 will now be explained. First, the main power switch (not shown) of the portable computer main body 1 is turned OFF, and any other external power source, such as an, AC adaptor (not shown), is removed from the main body 1, if it has been connected to the portable computer main body 1, as is customary in the art.

The cover (not shown) of the recess 12 on the back of the portable computer main body 1 is opened, and the add-on battery 4 is positioned towards the back of the portable computer main body 1 and fitted so that the power connector 33 of the add-on battery 4 can be fitted into the recess 12 of the portable computer main body 1. At this time, the pawls 34 and 35 of the add-on battery 4 are passed through the gaps between the pairs of pawls 14 and 15 of the portable computer main body 1 and moved relatively to each other through the respective, mating engaging slots 11 a, 11 b, and 31 a 1, 31 b 1, in the direction of the long leg of the L-shaped arrow in FIG. 2, perpendicular to the opposed, lower main surface of the body 1 and upper main surface of the battery 4, whereby the state shown in FIG. 7 can be attained.

Under the state shown in FIG. 7, the add-on battery 4 is pushed forward to the left in FIG. 2, as indicated by the short leg of the “L-shaped” arrows in FIG. 2, and with respect to the portable computer main body 1, as also indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 7 so as to fit the power connector 33 of the add-on battery 4 to the power connector 13 on the printed board 18 of the portable computer main body 1. The mating and projecting, or raised, T-shaped upper surface 30 of the battery 4 (as seen in FIG. 4) is received in the T-shaped recess 20 in the bottom surface 10 of the main body 1 (as seen in FIG. 3) and the same are matingly engaged and moved relatively to each other, in the L-shaped path described above, to engage the battery 4 with the main body 1.

Consequently, the projecting portions 46 of the add-on battery 4 (FIG. 4) fit into the pair of escape holes 26 for locking on the rear surface 25 of the portable computer main body 1 (FIG. 3) and restrict the main body 1 in the vertical direction. The pair of lock pawls 41 of the add-on battery 4 are caused to project into the pair of recesses 21 of the portable computer main body 1 by the respective springs 48 (FIG. 6) and lock the add-on battery 4 to the portable computer main body 1. Accordingly, the add-on battery 4 is restricted from any back and forth movement with respect to the portable computer main body 1 and is locked at that position. Further, the pawls 34 and 35 of the add-on battery 4 are caught by the pawls 14 and 15 of the portable computer main body 1, respectively, and firmly fix the relative vertical positions of the add-on battery 4 and the portable computer main body 1. When the power switch (not shown) is turned ON under this state, the add-on battery 4 can be used.

Next, the removing of the add-on battery 4 from the portable computer main body 1 will now be explained. In the same way as in the fitting operation, the main power switch (not shown) of the portable computer main body 1 is first turned OFF, and any other external power source, such as the AC adaptor (not shown), if any, is removed from the personal computer main body 1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the pair of lock releasing pawls 47 disposed on the rear surface of the add-on battery 4 are slid in the direction of the arrow A against the springs 48. The pair of lock releasing pawls 47 are interconnected to the pair of lock pawls 41, respectively, and operate integrally with the latter. Therefore, the pair of lock pawls 41 escape from the pair of recesses 21, respectively, of the portable computer main body 1, and the lock is thus released.

Under this state, when the add-on battery 4 is slid in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow C shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the portable computer main body 1 and is pulled down, the power connector 33 of the add-on battery 4 leaves (i.e., is disconnected) from the power connector of the portable computer main body 1 as shown in FIG. 7, and the pair of projecting portions 46 of the add-on battery 4 also leave (i.e., escape from) the pair of escape holes 26 on the rear surface 25 of the portable computer main body 1.

Therefore, under the state shown in FIG. 7, the add-on battery 4 can be removed from the portable computer main body 1 by pulling the add-on battery 4 from the portable computer main body 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the portable computer main body 1, the add-on battery 4 and the extended station 6. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the state where the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the portable computer main body 1 and FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state where the battery 4 and the computer main body 1, as fitted together, are further fitted to the extended station.

The add-on battery 4 can be fitted to and removed from the portable computer 1 as described above. Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to mount the portable computer main body 1 to the extended station while the add-on battery 4 is fitted to the computer main body 1. For this purpose, the extended station 6 is provided with a recess 61 for accommodating the add-on battery 4. Since this recess 61 is not a mere opening but is a recess having, i.e., defined by, a bottom surface 61 a which is typically planar and has a surrounding, generally upright sidewall 61 b extending, or projecting, therefrom to an upper main surface 64 of the extended station 6 a; a wiring pattern (not shown) such as a printed circuit board for supplying and transmitting power and signals between the front and rear areas of the extended station 6 can be disposed below the surface 61 a of this recess 61, and effective utilization of the space can be accomplished. The sidewall 61 b thus forms a passageway which guides the battery 4 into, and thereby to be accommodated at least in part within, the recess 61, when the portable computer body to which the battery is attached is being mounted on the extended station. When so mounted, the battery 4 is positioned between the portable computer body 1 and the extended station 6 and supports the portable computer body 1 on the extended station 6. The sidewall also guides the battery 4 when escaping from the recess 61 as the portable computer body, with the battery 4 attached thereto, is removed from the extended station 6.

By the way, when the portable computer main body 1 is fitted to the extended station 6, the connector 17 (see FIG. 5) disposed on the back of the portable computer main body 1 fits to the connector 62 of the extended station 6, and electrical connection is established between them.

Speakers 63 are disposed on both sides of the front portion of the extended station 6. These speakers 63 are inclined downward towards both side edges. Therefore, thin speakers 63 can be effectively disposed. When the portable computer main body 1 is fitted, the bottom of the main body 1 comes into contact with the upper surface 64 of the extended station 6. However, since the speakers 63 on both sides are inclined, gaps are defined between the portions of the speakers 63 and the bottom surface of the portable computer main body 1, and the speaker sound can be effectively diffused.

According to the present invention, as described above, when the portable computer is placed on the desk surface, etc, while the add-on battery is fitted thereto, the upper surface of the portable computer main body is inclined in such a fashion that its front portion becomes lower. Therefore, operability becomes excellent. When no add-on battery is fitted, the portable computer main body itself can be constructed into a thin notebook type computer. Even though the add-on battery can be filted thereon, the portable computer can have a portability equivalent to that of portable computers not having the add-on battery fitting function. Under the state where the add-on battery is fitted, the gap between the back of the portable computer and the desk surface, etc, can be effectively utilized, and a function having a high packaging density can be accomplished.

The add-on battery can easily be fitted to and removed from the portable computer main body and can be firmly fixed to the main body at the time when it is fitted, and its filting/removing operation can be done stably for a long time.

In a type which is equipped with the extended station, if the portable computer main body 1 having the add-on battery 4 mounted thereto is fitted to this extended station 6, the add-on battery 4 can be accommodated inside the recess portion 61 of the extended station 6. Therefore, the space can be effectively utilized as a whole, and an apparatus having a high density can be accomplished. Even though the recess portion 61 exists in the extended station 6, a printed wiring board, etc, can be disposed below the wall 61 a of this recess portion 61, and the internal arrangement inside the extended station 6 can efficiently be made.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description relates only to preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 

1. A portable computer supportable on a support surface, comprising: a portable computer body having upper and lower main surfaces joined by corresponding front and rear edges; and a battery detachably connectable at an upper surface thereof to the lower main surface of the portable computer body adjacent the rear edge thereof and maintaining the rear edge elevated with respect to the front edge, relatively to a support surface on which the portable computer body, with the battery detachably connected thereto, is supported. 